Pool-ball



(No Model.)

- H. BURT.

POOL BALL.

No. 507,880. Patented Oct. 31, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE H. BURT, OF MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY.

POOL-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,880, dated October 31, 1893. Application filed May 5, 1893- fierial No. 473,060. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, GEORGE H. BUR'lgacitizen of the United States, residing at Millburn, 1n the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool-Balls; and [do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrlption of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecificatio'n.

My in vention relates to balls for use in playing pool and other games, where the balls are marked for distinction from each other.

The distinguishing marks which are ordinarily in the form of circumferential stripes, or small, circular, numbered spots, or both, have heretofore been made by coloring the surface of the ball, to the desired extent, or

by inlaying the spot or'stripe. The objection to the former is that in use the coloring is soon worn off and needs to be renewed, while with the latter, which is usually a structure of composition with a core of inferior material covered by a thin shell of better material, the frequent concussion of the balls results in the loosening or separation of the shell and spot from the core. Besides this defeet in the composition ball thus made, there is a further objection to it because of its cost and the number of operations required to make it.

With these objections to pool balls as heretofore made, in view, I have aimed to produce a parti-colored or marked ball of composition of such homogeneity as to have no part that can become loose with reference to another, and having its markings provided in such way as to admit of re-turning or re-dressing to restore its sphericity, when such shall be necessary by reason of wear, without any obliteration whatever of the markings.

A further object has beena reduction in the number of operations necessary to produce a composition ball, and thus to simplify, expedite and cheapen manufacture.

With the objects named, in View, my invention, therefore, consists in a composition,

marked ball, and in the method employed in making the same substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the core, or foundation part of my ball as preferably formed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the completed ball, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the same.

In carrying my invention into practiceI form the core or foundation shown in Fig. 1, either by turning from a block of suitable composition, by the use of dies, or in any other desirable way. This core, asI shall term it, as shown, comprises a disk-like central portion A having its periphery rounded convexly on an are having substantially the diameter of the finished ball, an outwardly flaring or tapering circular projection a on each side of the part A, with its outer face curved convexly concentric with the disk portion A, and asmall disk-like projection a on the outer face of each projection a whose outer face is also curved convexly and on an arc concentric with and the same diameter as that of the disk A. The projections a and a and a and a are located on the axis of the disk A. The core thus formed is of a uniform color, that extends entirely through it, and for the formation of the ball is placed in a mold or die, with a suflicient quantity of the composition of the same nature as that -of which itself is made, upon each side of the disk portion A.

The composition I employ is in the form of a powder, of different color from the core, and will when subjected to heat and pressure,fuse and unite with the core and form therewith a solid homogeneous body, but without any disturbance in the distinctive colors employed, so that the exterior of the resulting sphere will have a middle zone or band of one color and on each side of the latter a zone of another color at the center of each of which will appear the numberspot of the same color as the middle zone. The function of the tapering portions 0. is simply to provide means for the secure interlocking of the sections or parts of the ball, but as the heat and pressure employed operate to fuse and unite them such portions may be given any. other form and size desired. A heat of about 350 Fahrenbelt is preferably employed, and a pressure of four hundred tons.

A single operation only is needed to unite the sections of the ball in the manner described, and as the product is a homogeneous body with the colored material forming the middle zone or stripe and the spots extending entirely through the ball, it will be seen that turning down or dressing to compensate for wear, can be carried to a considerable extent without in any degree impairing or obliterating the distinctive coloring, or producinga shell or layer apt to be easily injured or loosened by the concussion or striking of the balls against each other.

I claim 1. A ball consisting of a central part with portions extending to the periphery through the diameter in the form of a band or belt, and through the diameter at right angles theretoin the form of spots, and dilTerent-ly colored portions secured thereto to complete the contour of the ball, substantially as shown and described.

2. A ball composed of a core having a disk like portion, tapering projections at right angles to the disk like portion of the core and disk like terminals at the periphery of the ball, and separate portions of adifierent color united thereto, substantially as shown and described.

3. Aballcomposed of homogeneously united sections consisting of a central portion of a uniform color,anddiflerently marked portions each side thereof, through which pass reduced portions to form number spots.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE H. BURT.

Witnesses.

J. N. SHERWOOD, W. S. BLOSSINGHAN. 

